Silk Road
c.3rd century BCE
- 19th century
CARAVANSERAI
C
aravanserais were roadside inns that
were built along the Silk Road in
areas such as China, Eastern Europe,
North Africa, the Middle East and the Indian
Subcontinent. They were typically located outside
the walls of a city or village and were usually
funded by local governments or privately.
The word ‘caravanserai’ is a combination of
the Persian words ‘kārvān’, which means a group
of travellers or a caravan, and ‘sarāy’, a palace or
enclosed building. The term caravan was used to
describe groups of people who travelled together
across the ancient network for safety reasons, such
as merchants, travellers or pilgrims.
From the 10th century onwards, as merchant
and travel routes became more developed, the
construction of caravanserais increased and they
served as a safe place for people to rest at night.
Travellers on the Silk Road faced the possibility
of being attacked by thieves or being subjected
to extreme weather conditions. For this reason,
caravanserais were strategically placed so that they
could be reached in a day’s travel time, with inns
welcoming guests from dawn to late at night.
Caravanserais served as an informal meeting
point for the various people who travelled the
Silk Road. As a result, these structures became
important hubs for cultural exchange and
interaction, with travellers sharing their cultures,
ideas and beliefs, as well as taking knowledge
with them, greatly influencing the development of
several civilisations.
Caravanserais were also an important
marketplace for commodities and aided in the
trade of goods along the Silk Road. Indeed, it was
frequently the first stop for merchants looking to
sell their wares and stock up on supplies for their
own journeys. It is believed that around 12,
to 15,000 caravanserais were built along the Silk
Road, although only about 3,000 are known to
remain today, many of which are in ruins.Inside History
THE STABLES
Hundreds of animals arrived at the caravanserai
and the courtyard had to be large enough to
accommodate them. Travellers and merchants
could tie up their camels and horses, and the
animals could sleep in stables or bays built into
the courtyard’s enclosure. Food and hay for the
animals were also kept in the storerooms.ENTRANCE
Caravanserais typically had only one entrance
and exit, though larger compounds occasionally
had two. The high gate had to be large enough
for camels and horses to pass through, loaded
with the goods they were transporting.SECURE
COMPOUND
Caravanserais had
a high-walled exterior
and were typically
rectangular or square
in shape. Those that
were located near
borders often served as
fortresses, with fortified
walls and outposts for
soldiers. This added
security helped to
protect the caravanserai
from bandits.HUB OF INFORMATION
Caravanserais played an important role in
facilitating communication along the Silk Road.
Some of the inns even housed messenger horses
that were dispatched to cities with news that
had arrived with travellers and merchants.